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Aggregate Obstacles (Aviation Tools)

Summary

Aggregates point obstacle features within a given radius so that the highest obstacle in the group represents the entire group.

This tool groups cartographic representations of obstacle data on dense or crowded charts. Instead of being displayed individually, obstacle data will be represented as groups of obstacles based on the location of the highest obstacle in each group.

Usage

  • The tool uses the geometry and attribution of the obstacle at the highest Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL) elevation to represent all obstacles within a search radius of that obstacle.

  • Obstacles are considered for grouping if they are as tall or taller (height above ground level) than the provided height threshold (or the built-up area height threshold if inside a built-up area polygon).

  • For the Obstacle Features parameter value, you can use the Obstacle or the ObstaclePoint feature class in the AIS model.

  • Use the Obstacle Grouping Type parameter to output to a point feature class or to a polygon feature class. Either grouping type will represent all input obstacle features in the output features.

    If the parameter is set to To point, each obstacle group feature will represent one or more obstacles from the input obstacle features.

    If the parameter is set to To polygon, generalized polygons will be created to encompass the extent of two or more input obstacle features.

    If a potential output polygon is smaller than the input Minimum Polygon Area parameter value, a point obstacle group feature will be output instead.

  • Use the AIS feature class, ObstacleGroup, for the Target Obstacle Group Features parameter value. The following fields are populated by the tool:

    • ClientKey_Id—The GFID value of the highest obstacle in the group.

    • Height1_Val—The above ground height of the highest obstacle in the group.

    • Elevation_Val—The elevation of the highest obstacle in the group, calculated according to the Elevation Interpretation parameter value.

    • SearchRadius_Val—The Search Radius parameter value.

    • Label_Txt—The Target Obstacle Group Label parameter value.

    • Group_Code—Set to Yes if the group is composed of more than one obstacle; otherwise, set to No.

    • Count_Val—The number of features in the Obstacle Features parameter value.

  • Use the AIS feature class, ObstacleGroupArea, for the Target Obstacle Polygon Group Features parameter value. The following fields are populated by the tool:

    • ClientKey_Id—The GFID value of the highest obstacle in the group.

    • Height1_Val—The above ground height of the highest obstacle in the group.

    • Elevation_Val—The elevation of the highest obstacle in the group, calculated according to the Elevation Interpretation parameter value.

    • SearchRadius_Val—The Search Radius parameter value.

    • Label_Txt—The Target Obstacle Group Label parameter value.

  • The AIS table, ObstacleAssociation, will be populated by the tool to link input obstacle features with their ObstacleGroup or ObstacleGroupArea features.

    Note:

    The Built-Up Areas parameter value is not included in the AIS charting data model.

Parameters

Label Explanation Data type

Obstacle Features

The input obstacle features.

Feature Layer

Height Field

The field containing the height of the obstacle features.

String

Height Field Units

Specifies the units that will be used for obstacle height.

  • Meters—The obstacle height will be in meters.

  • Decimeters—The obstacle height will be in decimeters.

  • Centimeters—The obstacle height will be in centimeters.

  • Millimeters—The obstacle height will be in millimeters.

  • Yards—The obstacle height will be in yards.

  • Feet—The obstacle height will be in feet. This is the default.

  • Inches—The obstacle height will be in inches.

String

Elevation Field

The field containing the elevation of the obstacle features.

String

Elevation Field Units

Specifies the units that will be used for obstacle elevation.

  • Meters—The obstacle elevation will be in meters.

  • Decimeters—The obstacle elevation will be in decimeters.

  • Centimeters—The obstacle elevation will be in centimeters.

  • Millimeters—The obstacle elevation will be in millimeters.

  • Yards—The obstacle elevation will be in yards.

  • Feet—The obstacle elevation will be in feet. This is the default.

  • Inches—The obstacle elevation will be in inches.

String

Elevation Interpretation

Specifies how obstacle elevation will be measured.

  • On the Ground—The height value will be added to the elevation value to determine the elevation of the top of the obstacle. Specify this option when the Elevation Field parameter value contains values representing the elevation (AMSL) of the base of the obstacle.

  • Above the Ground—Specify this option when the Elevation Field parameter value contains values representing the elevation (AMSL) of the top of the obstacle. This is the default.

String

Target Obstacle Group Features

The output feature class where aggregated obstacle features will be written.

Feature Layer

Target Obstacle Group Label

The text describing the obstacle grouping. The text is used to identify obstacle groups for different chart specifications that may be created using different parameters.

String

Obstacle Association Table

The table that will be populated with information linking each obstacle group feature to the obstacles it represents.

Table View

Search Radius

(Optional)

The radius within which the obstacles will be grouped.

Linear Unit

Height Threshold

(Optional)

The height threshold for an obstacle to be considered for grouping. Obstacles with a height value greater than or equal to this value will be considered.

Linear Unit

Built-Up Areas

(Optional)

Polygon features designating built-up areas. These represent areas where a different height threshold is required.

Feature Layer

Built-Up Areas Height Threshold

(Optional)

The height threshold for an obstacle within a built-up area polygon to be considered for grouping. Obstacles with a height value equal to or greater than this value will be considered.

Linear Unit

Obstacle Grouping Type

(Optional)

Specifies the geometry type of the obstacle groups that will be generated.

  • To point—Obstacles will be generated as points. This is the default.

  • To polygon—Obstacles will be generated as polygons.

String

Target Obstacle Polygon Group Features

(Optional)

The output polygon feature class where aggregated obstacle features will be written.

Feature Layer

Minimum Polygon Area

(Optional)

The minimum area of an output polygon before it collapses to a point feature.

Areal Unit

Derived output

Label Explanation Data type

Updated Obstacle Group Features

The updated obstacle group features.

Feature Layer

Updated Obstacle Polygon Group Features

The updated obstacle polygon group features.

Feature Layer

Updated Obstacle Association Rows

The updated obstacle association rows.

Table View

Environments

This tool does not use any geoprocessing environments.

Licensing information

  • Basic: No
  • Standard: Requires ArcGIS Aviation Charting
  • Advanced: Requires ArcGIS Aviation Charting